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M27 - Dumbbell Nebula - NGC6853

M27, also known as the Dumbbell Nebula, is a planetary nebula located 1,360 light years from Earth. The nebula is what is left after a star similar to our Sun gets closer to the end of its life. After expanding and becoming a 'red giant', the outer layers of the star are ejected becoming the shell shown in this picture.

 

At the center of the nebula, the star is now a 'white dwarf', having just a fraction of its original size. It emits ultraviolet radiation, which ionizes the ejected shell and making is visible to us

 

Photo taken with a Canon XSi and a Nexstar 8i SE + 0.63 FF/FR. 180 x 15 seconds exposures + 25 darks. I will add flats some day.

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Uploaded on October 21, 2010
Taken on October 20, 2010